Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Phillies' Bryce Harper achieves another career milestone

By Lauren Amour | Last updated May 17, 2025 12:35 AM ET

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper achieved another career milestone on Friday night.

Harper entered the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with 999 career runs batted in, needing just one more RBI to become the 271st player in MLB history to achieve such a feat.

A bloop single in the fifth inning off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney drove in Johan Rojas to open up the scoring and give Harper his 1,000th career RBI.

Bryce Harper gives the @Phillies the lead with career RBI No. 1,000 pic.twitter.com/hPmLGomMtc
— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2025

Harper reached the majors in 2012 at age 19, securing his first career RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his MLB debut on April 28: a sacrifice fly off Javy Guerra. He went on to win Rookie of the Year that season.

His 1,000th RBI was just another footnote in Harper's illustrious career. The 32-year-old is a two-time National League MVP, NLCS MVP, Home Run Derby champion, eight-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. All that remains is a World Series title.

An Alexander Canario three-run homer in the sixth inning made it 3-1, Pirates, but the Phillies scored four runs in the seventh, coming on two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a sac fly, and three in the eighth to bring their lead to 8-3.

Pittsburgh tacked on another run in the ninth, but Philadelphia came away victorious, 8-4. The battle of Pennsylvania will continue Saturday and Sunday, when Phillies No. 8 prospect Mick Abel is set to make his MLB debut against 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.

Lauren Amour

Lauren Amour is a writer and editor based in the Greater Philadelphia area. She currently works as an editor and writer at Yardbarker, covering MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies.

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